Galicia is the westernmost part of mainland Spain, bordering Portugal to the south. It is one of the most beautiful coastal parts of Spain. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims a year head to the capital of Galicia, Santiago de Compostela. Galicia is known as the “land of a thousand rivers”. In addition, the region is famous for its dense forests, high mountains and wild coastline, a stark contrast to the arid and desert areas elsewhere in Spain.
Where to stay in Galicia
You will want to travel across Galicia. If you want you can stay in one place and make trips from there. Santiago de Compostela, which is about halfway between the north and south of Galicia, is well situated for this purpose. For “city life” I liked A Coruña the best.
But I recommend you travel around Galicia properly and rather choose accommodation in several places (if you feel comfortable with changing accommodation every (second) day. This way you can rotate towns like Vigo, Lugo, Pontevedra, Santiago, A Coruña.
Tips for accommodation
- A Coruña: NORO Plaza – beautiful designer apartments a short walk from the main square.
The end of the St. James Way
In Galicia, in the city of Santiago de Compostela, pilgrims from many parts of Europe end their pilgrimage. The pilgrimage ends in front of the Cathedral of Saint James in Santiago, and just a street away they have their successful pilgrimage stamped.
Some continue even further, to kilometer zero at the Fisterra lighthouse.
Costa Gallega – Galicia coast
The western coast of Galicia is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Canton Sea. The coastline is renowned for its wild beauty, drama and diversity. It offers breathtaking views, beaches and picturesque coves known as“rias“.
Rias are actually estuaries extending into the sea, forming deep bays. To the south are the Rías Baixas (low) and to the north the Rías Altas (high). They create the most beautiful scenery.
There are also several islands off the Galician coast, including the Cíes Islands, part of the Galicia Atlantic Islands National Park. The islands are known for their crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches and rich natural environment. In addition, they are quite peaceful.
Galician ports are renowned for their excellent seafood and traditional Galician cuisine.
The westernmost part of the coast is known as the Costa da Morte (Coast of Death). It stretches from the town of Fisterra to the town of Malpica. The area is dangerous for boats due to frequent storms, strong currents and rocky cliffs. But there are high cliffs and deserted beaches, a joy to behold.
On the Costa da Morte is also the westernmost point of the whole of mainland Spain, Cabo Touriñán.
There are even legends that Christopher Columbus (an Italian) may have had Galician ancestry and that he prayed here in the chapel on the island of Santa María de la Ínsua before his voyages to the New World.
What to see in Galicia
Galicia has a rich history and beautiful nature, there are many great things to see.
Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
The final station of the Camino de Santiago and the magnificent St James Cathedral. But beyond that, the city has a distinctive pilgrimage atmosphere that can be felt at every turn.
Lighthouse in Fisterra
The Spanish “end of the world”. A lighthouse and kilometro zero, another section of the pilgrimage route to the very edge of Spain on the Atlantic coast. The lighthouse up on the cliff is the main reason people head here, but the town of Fisterra itself, a little further down, is also worth a look. It’s a pretty little Spanish port town.
Roman walls in Lugo
Lugo is famous for its well-preserved Roman fortifications, which are also Unesco-listed.
In October, there is also the renowned Festa de San Froilán celebration with traditional Galician music, dance and gastronomy.
Coastal path in A Coruña
A beautiful town with the oldest working Roman lighthouse in the world, the Torre de Hércules. It’s Galicia’s largest coastal town and you can enjoy miles of walks along the coast and the Paseo Marítimo coastal promenade.
Thermal baths in Ourense
The town of Ourense has hot springs and a number of indoor and outdoor spas. The most famous thermal spring , As Burgas, is right in the centre of the town and the water temperature in several pools reaches 67 °C.
Termas Outariz and Termas Chavasqueira are modern spas with various types of thermal pools with water temperatures around 38 °C, saunas, steam baths and wellness treatments. Termas A Chavasqueira are inspired by Japanese spas and offer public and private baths.
Church in Muxía
Those who extend the Camino de Santiago sometimes make it all the way to Muxía. According to legend, the Virgin Mary arrived in Muxía on a stone boat to encourage St James in his mission to preach the Gospel in Spain. This story is recorded in the church of Nosa Señora da Barca, which is an important pilgrimage site and the main attraction for which people come here. It is surrounded by large stone formations and there is a lighthouse a short distance away.
Fervenza do Ézaro Waterfall
The Xallas River at Ézaro empties directly into the sea by a waterfall. It is the only place like this in Spain (normally, the estuary is without a waterfall). This place is more interesting in the rainy season, when the water rushes down the rocky terrain directly into the Atlantic Ocean.
What to taste in Galicia
Galicia is not the most “ordinary” Spanish cuisine. Galicia is famous for its great cuisine and especially for its seafood. I’ve come across seafood here that I’ve never even seen before (but then again, I’m no expert on these critters, so it’s possible that everyone knows). For example, they eat percebes (resins), which are some of the rarest seafood (so expensive too) because they are harvested on rocks in harsh conditions. I’ve had grilled navajas (solen or razor clams) which are long narrow shells.
And then the zamburiñas (small St James clams), they are smaller than the classic ones, they are made in a pan, usually with onions, garlic and peppers. The mussels are often served‘en su concha‘ (in their shell).
The most famous white wine of Galicia, Albariño, comes from the Rías Baixas region. It is renowned for its freshness, floral notes and excellent ability to pair with seafood. Another popular white wine is Ribeiro, which comes from the area around the Minho River. It is a blend of several grape varieties, giving it a complex and varied character.
Queixo de Tetilla is a soft, creamy, pear-shaped cheese that is slightly sour and sweet.
A dessert that is not to be missed, especially in Santiago, is the tarta de Santiago. This traditional almond cake is topped with sugar in the shape of a St James cross. It is an iconic Galician dessert whose recipe dates back to the Middle Ages.
What is typical of Galicia
If you know the south or the islands from Spain, when you arrive in Galicia, you’ll feel like you’re in a completely different country. Galicia is a bit different in nature, language, architecture and gastronomy.
Galician “galerías” windows
Galicia is known for its humid oceanic climate, with frequent rain and cloud cover throughout the year. Because of this, there is less natural light that enters the houses, which they solve by having full-wall or glass balconies.
Galerías allow maximum light to penetrate, but also protect from rain and wind, creating pleasant and bright spaces even in inclement weather.
This architectural element has become so iconic for Galician cities, it is one of the most distinctive symbols of the region. In addition to their functionality, galerías add aesthetic value to houses.
Galician “galego”
If you speak Spanish, and maybe even if you don’t speak much, you’ll notice that a lot of the signs, names or dishes on the restaurant menu are spelled a little differently. The language developed in the Middle Ages along with Portuguese, so many times the words are more like Portuguese. Galicians are probably suitably proud of their language, so it’s common to not only not get menus in English, but even in Spanish in traditional restaurants.
Galician granaries “horreos”
In Galicia you can often see such houses on chicken legs. I originally thought it was something religious, like tombs. But no, they’re granaries, mostly stone. They’re built for agricultural produce on stone pillars for the mice.
One of the longest is the Hórreo de Carnota, which is 34 metres long and dates back to the 18th century.
Gaita and Muiñeira
Gaita is traditional Galician bagpipe music. It is linked to the Celtic traditions that Galicia shares with other Celtic regions such as Ireland, Scotland and Brittany in France. Playing the gaita (the instrument, the bagpipes) requires a certain skill and “gaiteros” (bagpipers) are quite respected in Galician society. The gaita is part of cultural, religious and festive events. It can be accompanied by singing or dancing.
The most famous Galician dance is the Muiñeira. It is a joyful, rhythmic dance, the gaita is accompanied by tambourines and drums.
Where is Galicia
Galicia is an autonomous community in north-western Spain, located on the Atlantic coast. It is made up of green hills, deep fjords called rías and a rugged coastline with thousands of bays and coves. The area is very mountainous, with the Montes de León to the east and the lower Sierra de O Courel and Macizo Galaico forming a characteristic landscape of forests and pastures.
Galicia is bordered by Portugal to the south, Castilla y León to the east and Asturias to the north. The capital Santiago de Compostela is in the centre of the region, the port of A Coruña lies about 70 km to the north-west and the largest city , Vigo, is about 90 km to the south on the border with Portugal. Madrid is over 400 km north-west as the crow flies, with the Portuguese border just a few kilometres away.
How to get to Galicia
From the Czech Republic to Galicia is about 2400 kilometres. There are no direct flights here, but Galicia has two airports where you can connect. One is in Santiago de Compostela (it is busier), the other in A Coruña, you can transfer here, typically in Madrid or Barcelona. From Madrid you can also get here by train, it takes about 4 hours, to Ourense only 3 hours.
